Menopause brings hormonal changes which leads to uneven skin tone, dryness, and texture, and skin sensitivity towards harmful UV rays.
Here are some symptoms as you approach menopause like night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, and weight gain, and your skin will also undergo changes related to menopause. This is because the dermis, which is the thickest layer of skin, is very sensitive related to the shifts in hormones which accompany menopause.
The average age of menopause is 51 when a woman passes one year without a menstrual cycle, as per the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. But it’s not when the transition phase begins. There is a time period before menopause which is called perimenopause, which is seen in a woman in late 30s or 40s.
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How to Cure Aging Skin
This process makes it tough to recognize when and how to tweak skin-care routine. Here are the steps for maintaining the health of skin and appearance during the life stage.
Caring for Skin during Menopause phase means putting Hydration First
Because dry skin is the common complaints at this time, you need to switch to the more moisturizing products which means usage of creamy cleanser which will appear literally creamy and avoid foam formation
Rather than applying a normal moisturizer before going to bed, always look for a night cream. These are more obstructing than lightweight lotions, which mean they lock water into skin. While shopping for a night cream, one of the ingredients which traps moisture is ceramides, as per Dr. Khetarpal. Hyaluronic acid is another hydrator which is naturally found in skin. This ingredient brings in water from the environment for hydrating skin, thereby making it temporarily overweight like a grape.
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Combat Wrinkles with Retinoids but Still keeping it Hydrated
Retinoids is the other area which deserves your attention. This vitamin A derivative, which can be bought through a prescription from a dermatologist or from the counter promotes cellular turnover to reveal a brighter and fresh layer of skin and further increase the thickness of skin. Retinoids are the most targeted medication. The bad reality is that retinoids are intrinsically drying, which further exacerbate problems with dehydration. You can overcome this by using a single pea sized amount of skin a few times per week and increasing the frequency as skin begins to build tolerance. Each step involved in frequency may take upto weeks to months.
Also consider a retinol, which is a weaker form of retinoids that is also available over the counter. Products like Sente Intensive Bio Complete Cream which costs $125 have been formulated specifically with sensitive skin in mind. If you find that retinoids are not compatible with your skin, always look for those products which contain peptides, a protein which promotes the production of collagen.